PIERRE-LAURENT AIMARD

Widely acclaimed as a key figure in the music of our time and as a leading interpreter of the standard piano repertoire, Pierre-Laurent Aimard was one of the first names that came to mind when looking for artists to participate in a documentary about Mozart. Aimard performs throughout the world with the major orchestras, under conductors including Pierre Boulez, Christoph von Dohnanyi and Sir Simon Rattle. He was recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist Award in Spring 2005 and in Spring 2006 he is set to play the world premiere performances of Peter Eotvos’s CAP-KO, a new concerto for acoustic piano, keyboard and orchestra.

Q: Tell us about your favourite Mozart piece.
A: The Magic Flute: it enlightened my childhood, then my youth; and gave me noble joy during the dark moments of my life.

Q: Is Mozart the greatest composer of all time?
A: Art is not Olympic Games.

Q: If you could ask Mozart one question, what would it be?
A: How would you compose out of the frame of a tonal language?

Q: When did you realise that music would be your career?
A: I realise it a bit better every day.

Q: If you were to give advice to an aspiring musician, what would it be?
A: Look forwards, not backwards!

Q: As a classical musician, do you listen to popular music, and if so, who do you enjoy listening to?
A: I suffer to be forced to hear ‘music’ everywhere, permanently (at the restaurant, in the airports, the taxis, etc.) This acoustic rape makes me wish to hear silence, silence and more silence…

Q: Which living composer do you most admire and why?
A: I admire Pierre Boulez who has devoted his entire life not only to create his own music but also to help his colleagues to be played.

Q: Do you think that classical music is attracting larger audiences than ever before?
A: Generally speaking, the number of listeners is increasing. But we have to fight for artistic education.

Q: What, so far, has been the highlight of your career?
A: To premiere and record Ligeti Etudes for piano.

Q: What are your plans for Mozart Year 2006?
A: To go on with the marvellous musicians of Chamber Orchestra of Europe, playing and conducting Mozart concertos.